Copenhagen 0 Leicester 0: Foxes edge closer to Champions League knockout stages

KASPER SCHMEICHEL came to Leicester’s rescue with a brilliant save just seconds from the end.

By Dave Armitage

Claudio Ranieri's Leicester were left frustrated by Copenhagen

The Foxes survived a massive scare to put themselves within a point of the Champions League knockout stages.

They got the job done – but only just – and now a draw from either of the remaining two games will see them over the line.

But it was hard graft and it certainly wasn’t pretty. How different things might have looked had Schmeichel not come to the rescue and Copenhagen cocked up with just 10 seconds of normal time remaining.

Schmeichel made a superb save to keep out Andreas Cornelius’s close range header but Federico Santander failed to rattle home the loose ball.

Yes, it was a tight angle, but he only had to hit the target from no more than two yards out and he would have nicked it.

It was Schmeichel, who has a home just two minutes from the ground, who ended up coming to the rescue with that last gasp save.

When the Leicester players came to Copenhagen in fancy dress for their Christmas party, Schmeichel came as Mr Incredible.

Leicester star Jamie Vardy could not find a way past Copenhagen

How apt that proved to be – he’d denied Copenhagen with a superb last minute stop in the first tie last month.

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri said: “That was a crucial save by Kasper. It was very, very good and really important. He’s fantastic.”

“The pitch was horrible for both sides. It was slippy. Taking all that into account, I’m pleased with a point and another clean sheet.

“We need one point and it’s important that we try and get it against Bruges so we can go to Porto for the last game with no need to worry.”

It was pretty dour stuff for the most part with neither keeper having to cope with anything more than routine stuff.

Leicester failed to test Copenhagen keeper Robin Olsen, though a Danny Drinkwater cross which skidded across the face of the goal deserved better.

Leicester had four players booked for fouls – Drinkwater, Robert Huth, Luis Hernandez and Wes Morgan.

The players walked out to an impressive sight in Copenhagen

Schmeichel might well have been booked as well for taking his time over his business but the referee settled for a warning.

The opening 45 minutes were probably as poor a half as Ranieri’s men have turned in for a long time.

Morgan made a great block to thwart Verbic and five minutes after the interval Christian Fuchs did well to get himself in the way of a stinging drive from Peter Ankersen.

In the 68th minute Copenhagen squandered another great opportunity when Verbic was left unmarked at the far post but blazed his shot way over.

Copenhagen boss Stale Solbakken could hardly believe his side hadn’t won the game.

Solbakken said: “We’ve played 180 minutes against Leicester and they’ve created two chances.

“I’m very proud of my team and I couldn’t ask any more. We had the better chnaces and Schmeichelk has made great saves at the end of both matches.”

            

   

COPENHAGEN (4-4-2): Olsen; Ankersen, Jorgensen, Johansson, Augustinsson; Verbic (Kusk 83), Kvist, Delaney, Jensen (Toutouh 65); Santander, Cornelius.

Subs: Andersen, Hogli, Antonsson, Gregus, Kusk, Pavlovic, Toutouh.

LEICESTER (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel; Hernandez, Huth, Morgan, Fuchs; Mahrez, Amartey; Drinkwater, Schlupp (Okazaki 71),Vardy; Musa.

Subs: Zieler, King, Albrighton, Simpson, Gray, Ulloa.

Referee: Felix Brych (Germany).

dailystar.co.uk